Bill Tesauro

by Bill Tesauro on September 5, 2016 57 Comments

How Much Can a Full-Time Rideshare Driver Make in Las Vegas?

Harry here. A lot of people get into rideshare looking to make a few hundred bucks a week, which is great. But unlike other jobs, there is a lot of variability with this line of work and the top drivers can make significantly more than the bottom. Today, RSG contributor (and spreadsheet master) Bill Tesauro examines what a top driver in the Las Vegas market can make. And believe it or not, this Vegas driver actually makes most of his money with Lyft, not Uber.

Recently RSG reader Mike M reached out to us about his experience as a full time rideshare driver in Las Vegas, NV. Today we’d like to share his story with you alongside how his average net earnings topped $1,056 a week over 44 weeks! That’s a total of $46,464.

Mike first became interested in Uber & Lyft about 2 years ago as a secondary income stream alongside his full time cubicle gig and night job slinging bags at McCarran Airport. But the taxi authority stepped in near the end of 2014 to shut it down. Luckily, September 2015 rolled around and rideshare was legally back!

A $545 Tax Deduction Every Week?

Full-time rideshare drivers can put up to 1000 business miles a week on their car. Rack up your mileage deductions and track your business miles with QuickBooks Self-Employed.

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by Bill Tesauro on August 12, 2016 31 Comments

An Airport Guide For Uber and Lyft Drivers

Harry here. After the party hours, airport runs can be some of the most lucrative for drivers. Today, RSG contributor Bill Tesauro breaks down how and where to find these rides AND shares a handy spreadsheet that lists the rules and regulations for all the top airports in the country.

Ask an Uber driver where the easiest money is, and a lot of them will say “at the airports.” Airport runs are predictable. Business travelers depart early in the week on Monday afternoons or Tuesday morning and arrive home Thursday afternoons or Friday mornings like clockwork. And the best part for some is that you don’t have to deal with drunks.

From the rider perspective, getting an Uber or Lyft from the airport is more convenient than ever! The plane lands, you flip off airplane mode, grab overhead bin bags, exit to the luggage carousel, and order an Uber while waiting.

For drivers looking beyond our hands on the wheel at 10 & 2, it’s a bit more complicated though. Stories abound of being stopped, detained, and fined, then cars impounded due to local airport servicing being off limits unbeknownst to drivers of course. LAX / ATL / DTW / EWR / ORD have all experienced their fair share of growing pains related to legislative battles with Uber & Lyft and now we have a confusing web of policies that vary by city and airport.

So let’s delve into a few airport rules and regulations that’ll keep you on the right side of the law.

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by Bill Tesauro on July 27, 2016 68 Comments

How to Make $28/Hour as an Uber Driver in San Diego

Harry here. Whenever people ask me how much you can make as an Uber driver, I don’t always have the best answer since the truth is it can really vary. It depends a lot on what city you’re in, when and where you drive and even how good of a driver you are.

I’ve seen lots of people complain about how little they’re making, but the truth is they’re probably not doing everything they can to maximize their income. Today, I wanted to share a guest post from long-time reader and new RSG contributor Bill Tesuaro. Bill is a rideshare veteran out of San Diego and has consistently earned $28/hr AND has the numbers to back it up. Let us know what you think of Bill’s strategy in the comments below.

I’ve been hitting the pavement as a weekend warrior, logging between 20-24 hours per week, for the past 15 months driving for both Lyft and Uber. I ended 2015 grossing an average of $28 an hour, then rates in San Diego were drastically reduced 82% per mile & 50% per minute while eliminating the base fare completely at the beginning of January 2016.

Sounds disastrous, right? Actually, seven months later, I’m still running at a gross average per hour of $28. How is that possible? Am I a better driver than most? Nope, but I’d like to think, qualitatively speaking, I’m driving smarter!

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